A colder spell is on the way - Met Éireann has warned that Ireland will bid farewell to the spell of recent warm sunshine as April opens with a dip in temperatures and some heavy wintry showers - and even a risk of snow flurries across higher ground.

The dramatic dip in temperatures is due to a polar air mass moving over Ireland from the icy north, which will see the weather here turning very cold, and many areas will see some frost, while some areas of higher ground may even see some light snow flurries.

The icy air mass will also see Ireland record a dramatic 9 degree drop in daytime temperatures in the space of just over a week from 17C down to a chilly 8C.

The medium range forecast is for a mix of sunshine, cloudy conditions and heavy showers in the build-up to Easter.